Column: R-H superintendent search underway

Wednesday

Oct 11, 2017 at 3:51 PM

Robert L. Cook

Ken Graham, superintendent of the Rush-Henrietta Central School District, has announced his intent to retire in July 2018. Now the important work of choosing our next superintendent begins. Dan White, superintendent of Monroe No. 1 BOCES, is serving as search consultant. An explanation of this process is available at rhnet.org/superannouncement. The search committee is seeking input from all members of the community, including staff members, parents and residents. The goal of a new survey is to help define essential qualities of a new superintendent and a focus for that candidate’s efforts in his or her new role. The deadline to provide feedback is Monday, Oct. 16. Access the survey at rhnet.org/supersearch or simply visit the district website at rhnet.org.For nearly 20 years, Graham has worked tirelessly as superintendent to make the Rush-Henrietta Central School District a great place to work and learn. Like all of those who have worked closely with him, my colleagues on the board of education and I have seen this first hand. Our community owes him a debt of gratitude for leaving us with not only a vision for the future, but the stability required to make that vision a reality.As Graham moved closer to the end of a long and successful career, he demonstrated a work ethic that remains as strong today as it was when he joined the district in 1999. He devoted much time and effort during the past four years to developing a comprehensive reconfiguration of our school district, a change that became effective in September. In addition, Graham led the school district through three major facilities improvements projects that were approved overwhelmingly by the community. These projects helped Rush-Henrietta create a new transportation and operations center, provided significant improvements to our junior high schools and senior high school, including numerous athletics fields, and helped deliver a replacement for a dilapidated administration building that housed his first office in Rush-Henrietta.Of course, none of this would matter without the strong emphasis that Graham placed on providing sound instruction for our students. We thank him for his outstanding leadership.If you have questions about the superintendent search, please contact any board trustee listed below. Our information is available online at rhnet.org/meettheboard. Thank you for your continued support.Robert L. Cook is president of the Rush-Henrietta Board of Education. The board of education is comprised of seven community members elected to serve unpaid, three-year terms. The board members are Simeon I. Banister; Jennifer M. Laird; Diane E. McBride; Sean P McCormick, vice president; Sue A. Smith; and Annmarie Strzyzynski. To learn more about the district, visit rhnet.org.